Acupuncture for Neck and Shoulder Pain in Denver
What brings people in with neck and shoulder pain
Tech neck and postural tension from desk work
Tension headaches that start at the base of the skull
Whiplash, once your physician has cleared you
Cervical disc pain with tingling into the arm, alongside your doctor or physical therapist
Frozen shoulder
Rotator cuff strain and impingement
Shoulder blade pain that stretching will not release
How acupuncture treats neck and shoulder pain
The muscles that hold your head up were not built to do it at a forward angle all day. When the upper trapezius, the levator scapulae and the small muscles at the base of the skull stay contracted for hours, they lose blood flow, build trigger points and refer pain into the head, shoulder blade and arm. Acupuncture helps in four ways, and a 2016 Cochrane review of 27 trials found moderate-quality evidence that it relieves chronic neck pain better than sham, with a 2018 analysis of 20,827 patients showing the benefit still there a year later.
It releases the knotted bands
Neck and shoulder pain usually begins with muscles that stay contracted for hours until they form tight, tender bands. Needles placed directly into those trigger points in the upper trapezius, levator scapulae and base of the skull produce a small twitch and interrupt the contraction. As the band lengthens, range of motion returns and the pain that refers into the head and shoulder blade eases.
It turns down the pain signal
Pain is a signal your nervous system can amplify or quiet, not simply a measure of tissue damage. Points in the hands, forearms and lower legs change how the spinal cord and brain process pain and prompt the release of the body’s own pain-relieving chemicals, which is why a needle near the thumb can ease a stiff neck. The result is less pain even while the tissue is still recovering.
It settles irritated nerves
Tight muscles and stiff joints in the neck can irritate the nerves that run into the shoulder and arm, causing aching, tingling or a burning line of pain. I needle the muscles around those nerves and along their path to reduce compression and the inflammation around them. Tingling or weakness that is getting worse needs a medical evaluation first.
It improves circulation to the joint and muscle
Chronically tight muscles compress their own blood supply, leaving the area short of oxygen and slow to repair. Needling around the shoulder joint and along the rotator cuff increases local circulation, which delivers what tissue needs to recover and clears the by-products of inflammation. This also helps a stiff joint capsule loosen, which is why frozen shoulder takes longer.
What to expect
What to wear and bring
Wear loose, comfortable clothing, with a top that lets me reach your neck, shoulders and upper back; a tank top works well. Eat a light meal beforehand, and bring any imaging or notes from your doctor and a list of your medications.
Your first visit
Plan on 90 minutes. We go through your history, I check how far your neck and shoulder move and where the pain refers, and you get a full treatment the same day. I will refer you out first if you have numbness or weakness that is getting worse, pain after a fall or crash that has not been imaged, or neck pain with fever or unexplained weight loss.
What it feels like
Most people feel a brief tap and then a dull, heavy ache that fades in seconds. Needles in a tight band can bring a small twitch, which is the muscle letting go. You rest on a heated table for 25 to 30 minutes, and many people doze off.
How many visits
A stiff neck from a bad night or a recent strain usually takes two to four visits. Long-standing desk tension takes six to eight weekly visits before the change holds, then a visit every three or four weeks if you want maintenance. Frozen shoulder often takes ten to fifteen visits over three months.
Add-ons that fit
For neck and shoulder pain I often add cupping across the upper back or Tuina for the neck and shoulder girdle. A 60-minute follow-up covers most visits, and a 90-minute visit leaves room for the add-ons.
Why choose The Subtle Point
One practitioner, every visit
You see me, Michael Sugiura, L.Ac., Dipl. TCM (NCCAOM), at every visit. I am a Colorado licensed acupuncturist and have treated patients since 2017, the year I became licensed.
A private room, no rush
Every treatment is one-on-one in a private room on a heated table. You stay dressed for most treatments, and the visit is long enough to talk through what is going on.
Five-star reviews
Patients have left more than 500 five-star reviews across Google, ClassPass and Groupon, and the clinic holds a 5.0 rating on Google.
Easy to reach
3600 South Beeler Street, Suite 150, in Hampden Town Center at Hampden Avenue and I-25, with free parking at the door. Open until 7 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, and Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
500+ five-star reviews across Google, ClassPass and Groupon
124 Five Star Reviews
Mike at subtle point is a pro! He has helped me numerous times deal with musculoskeletal pain in my back, legs, shoulder, neck and hands! He’s great at what he does and is very personable so I gladly give him five stars!
—Moe El Ali
247 Five Star Reviews
Michael was PERFECT! He asked a lot of questions about my pain and went to work on relieving it. The pain in my side that would wake me up every night for years has been gone for 4 days now thanks to the acupuncture. I also received such an amazing neck and head rub it made my toes tingle! I also noticed that I can go much deeper in my yoga poses after one treatment. Michael knows his work!
—Becky
146 Five Star Reviews
“Mike is so thorough and knowledgeable. Best acupuncture experience I have ever had. I will definitely be going back!”
“The owner Michael was super nice and very knowledgeable! I had a great experience!”
“This is the first time I’ve ever had acupuncture and cupping, and it was great. Definitely recommend.”
Prices
Payment
We accept cash, check, all major credit cards, and HSA/FSA cards. We don’t bill insurance directly, but we can provide a superbill you can submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Rarely, and never the way an injection does. Acupuncture needles are about the width of a human hair. Most people feel a brief tap, then a dull, heavy or warm sensation that fades in a few seconds. If any point feels sharp, tell me and I will adjust or remove it.
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Most people feel looser the same day. A recent strain usually takes two to four visits. Long-standing desk tension takes six to eight weekly visits before the change holds between sessions.
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Acupuncture stimulates specific points with very fine needles. That signals the nervous system to release endorphins, increases local blood flow, calms the stress response and reduces inflammation. In Chinese medicine terms it restores smooth movement of qi and blood where it has stalled. I choose points from your symptoms, history, pulse and exam, so no two plans are identical.
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It often reduces the muscle spasm and inflammation around the irritated nerve root, which is where much of the pain and tingling comes from. It does not change the shape of a disc or a bone spur. If you have numbness or weakness that is getting worse, you need imaging and a physician's evaluation first, and I will tell you that at your first visit.
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Some will, yes. Points in the neck and upper back use the thinnest needles I have and go in shallowly. Most patients feel a dull ache that fades in a few seconds, and many fall asleep during the rest period.
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Yes. A 30- or 60-minute follow-up fits inside a lunch break for anyone in the DTC or Greenwood Village. Most people book the 90-minute first visit after work or on a Saturday.
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Book online at acusimple.com/access/4476, or call or text (720) 285-6251.